The Government has today confirmed that it rejected the advice of the National Mental Health Commission to set a national 50 per cent suicide reduction target over 10 years.

Earlier today in Question Time the Minister for Rural Health, Fiona Nash, was asked:

Can the Minister confirm the Government has not accepted the recommendation of the Mental Health Commission to adopt a suicide reduction target of 50 per cent over the next ten years?

And the Minister replied:

“It is my understanding that is correct.”

When asked whether the government would reconsider its position and adopt a bipartisan reduction target of 50 per cent over 10 years as recommended by the National Mental Health Commission the Minister for Rural Health answered “No”.

Every year it is estimated that 2500 people take their own lives and 65,000 Australians will attempt to commit suicide.

In the interests of reducing the numbers of lives lost to suicide, Labor again extends an offer for bipartisan support for a suicide reduction target and urges the Government to reconsider their position.